Decision on the Detention of Former Minister of Industry Baek Woon-gyu Today... Turning Point in the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Investigation

Former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-kyu / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The pre-arrest detention hearing for former Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Baek Woon-gyu, who is accused of manipulating the economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, will be held on the afternoon of the 8th.

It is known that before the hearing, former Minister Baek plans to make a statement in front of reporters, asserting that "it was a policy decision and there was no illegal order."

According to the court on that day, the pre-arrest detention hearing for former Minister Baek will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Courtroom 301 of the Daejeon District Court, presided over by Judge Oh Seyong, who is in charge of warrants.

Previously, the prosecution informed that former Minister Baek could enter the courtroom through a private entrance, but it was reported that his side expressed the intention to enter through the public entrance.

He held a strategy meeting with his lawyers until late on the night of the 7th, and it is known that before today's warrant hearing, he decided to express to the press that "it was a decision regarding national policy, and there was no illegal act such as abuse of authority or obstruction of business."

Former Minister Baek is accused of interfering with the Board of Audit and Inspection’s audit by manipulating the economic feasibility evaluation conducted by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and deleting related documents prior to the shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1. He is also accused of being involved in the deletion of 530 nuclear power-related documents by three Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials.

On the 4th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Sang-hyun) requested a pre-arrest warrant for former Minister Baek on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of business.

Some expect that the issuance of the warrant for former Minister Baek could become a turning point leading to an investigation into whether the Blue House was involved in the shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1.

Former Minister Baek denied most of the charges when he was investigated as a suspect on the 25th of last month. The decision on detention is expected to be made late in the afternoon on the same day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.